On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, a meeting was held at the Ministry of National Defence in Warsaw between Secretary of State Paweł Bejda, responsible for overseeing the technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, and Emmanuel Chiva, Director of the Directorate General of Armaments (Direction générale de l’Armement – DGA) at the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans.
Photos: Polish Ministry of National Defence
The discussions focused on the potential to strengthen industrial and military cooperation between Poland and France, with particular emphasis on projects of strategic importance for the Polish Armed Forces.
One of the key topics addressed during the meeting was the Orka program – the planned acquisition of new submarines for the Polish Navy. The French side presented its offer, prepared by the Naval Group, which includes modern vessels capable of carrying out a wide range of operational tasks, including deterrence missions and special operations.
An important part of the discussions also concerned the needs of the Polish Air Force in the area of strategic transport and aerial refueling capabilities under the Karkonosze program. The government delegation was accompanied by a team from Airbus Defence and Space (part of the Airbus Group), which presented its offer on this matter.
The meeting was a significant element of the Polish-French defense dialogue, highlighting the growing importance of cooperation between the defense industries of both countries. As Secretary of State Paweł Bejda emphasized, “Poland is interested in solutions that not only strengthen the operational capabilities of the armed forces but also support the development of the national defense industry through technology transfer and production cooperation.”
